Foldable table with hinged top



Feb. 10, 1959 BOTNlCK 2,873,156

FOLDABLE TABLE WITH HINGED TOP Filed Oct. 21, 1957 5 INVENTOR. Z feL/N Bow/cm g /d/wmh 4 TTQPNEX United States a Patent Ofiice 2,873,156 FOLDABLE TABLE WITH HLNGED TOP Irlin Botnick, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to The Kromex Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio This invention relates to tables and particularly to a foldable table.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a foldable table, for use by a single person,' whose top can be positioned over the lap of the user while sitting in an ordinary chair.

Another object is to provide a device of the type stated whose top can be positioned over the users lap without legs or other portions contacting the object in which the user is sitting, be it a chair, bench or sofa.

A further object is to provide a foldable table of the type stated, having only two legs, that are stable and firm against tipping or tilting.

Another object is to provide such a table that can be easily and quickly collapsed for storage in a limited space.

Still another object is to provide a table of the type stated that is, light in weight, simple but rugged in construction and easy to set up or collapse by a single rotary motion of one of its two legs.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification and claim, together with the accompanying drawing, wherein: I

Figure l is a perspective view of the foldable table that is the subject of this invention showing it as used with an ordinary metal chair;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the table, viewed from above;

Figure 3 is a side view of the table in its semifolded state;

Figure 4 is a side view of the table in its completely folded state, ready for storage; and

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 5-5 of Figure 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawing there is seen in Figure l the table that is the subject of this invention, broadly indicated by reference numeral 10, so positioned in front of a chair 11 that its top 28 will extend over the lap of a person seated in the chair.

The so positioned table may be used as a work surface for writing etc., or as an individual snack or dining table; and as such may be used by persons watch- 1 ing a television program or other entertainment.

The table comprises two substantially U-shaped support members, broadly indicated by reference numerals 12 and 13, which support the table top 28. The supporting members 12 and 13, are each fabricated from a single length of bar or tubing stock of circular crosssection. In the preferred form, illustrated, the members 12 and 13 are made of aluminum tubing for the sake of lightness, although any other suitable material might be used.

The supporting member 12 is substantially U-shaped in form, having a vertical body portion 14 and upper and lower horizontal portions 16 and 18 respectively. A curved brace 20 has its center point anchored on 2,873,156 Patented eb. 10,1959

. p 2 p j the body portion 14 and its ends attached to the upper and lower horizontal portions 16 and 18 respectively, as is seen most clearly in Figure 3.

The supporting member 13 is similarly constructed having a vertical body portion 15 and upper and lower horizontal portions 17 and 19 respectively. The lower horizontal portion 19 is bent upward at the vertical body portion 15 and downwardly at its free end to form two spaced feet 23 and 25 respectively. A curved brace 21 has its center point anchored to the body portion 15 and its ends attached to the upper and lower horizontal portions 17 and 19, respectively.

The two supporting members 12 and 13 are joined in hinged engagement by means of two spaced spring clips 26 and 27 which clip around the vertical body portions 14 and 15, respectively, and hold the two body portions in tangential contact along their entire length. The so held supporting members 12 and 13 being free to rotate on the vertical axes of the vertical body portions 14 and 15, as seen in Figures 3, 4 and 5.

The table top 28 is hingedly mounted on the upper horizontal portion, or arm, 17, of the supporting member 15 by means of hinges 29, and is free to swing between horizontal and vertical positions.

The top 28 has a rimmed edge 31 which acts as a frame for holding a decorative covering for the top and also serves to prevent objects from sliding oif the top.

Reference numeral 30 indicates a locking clip, mounted on the underside of the top 28, which is engageable with the upper horizontal portion 16 of the supporting member 12 when the two members 12 and 13 are angularly disposed to one another with the table top 28 supported therebetween, as seen in Figures 1 and 2.

To fold the table 10 illustrated in Figure 2, the lock clip 30 is disengaged and the supporting member 12 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction on its vertical axis 14. As soon as the horizontal portion 16 travels beyond the edge of the top 28, the top 28 will fall into a vertical position on the supporting member 13, as seen in Figure 3. Upon further rotation of the supporting member 12, the member 12 may be folded against the member 13, as seen in Figure 4. The so folded table is in a compact, flat condition, ready for storage in a minimum of space.

To set up the table it is only necessary to raise the top 28 to a horizontal position and rotate the supporting member 12 in a clockwise direction back to the position illustrated in Figure 2, wherein the top 28 is supported on the two horizontal portions 16 and 17 of the members 12 and 13 respectively. At the same time the top 28 is brought into locked engagement with the horizontal portion, or arm, 16 by means of the locking clip 30, which holds the supporting member 12 in fixed angular relation to the member 13.

' The use of two U-shaped supporting members, joined in angular disposition along their vertical portions 14 and 15 provides a firm support for the top 28 that will fit between the users legs and permit the top 28 to be brought over the users lap while seated in any sort of a chair, bench, or the like.

It will now be clear that there is provided a device which accomplishes the objectives heretofore set forth. While the invention has been disclosed in its preferred form; it is to be understood that the specific embodiment thereof as described and illustrated herein is not to be considered in a limited sense as there may be other forms or modifications of the invention which should also be construed to come within the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

A foldable table comprising in combination, a pair of substantially U-shaped tubular supporting members consisting of a vertical bodylportion and upper and lower horizontal portions, eaehlower horizontal portion being bent upwardly at the body portion and downwardly at its free end .to form spaced feet, two body portions being held in tangentialcontact along their entire length by means of spaced spring clips, the so joined body portions being free to rotate on their vertical axes, and a table top hingedly mounted on the horizontal portion of one of the members, having locking means engageable with the horizontal portion of the other of said members, when the two members are angularly disposed to one another, with the table top supported therebetween, the said table, top being collapsed against the body portion of the first supporting member when the 5 second supporting member is folded thereagainst.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

